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Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs

Wet weather and temporary adjustments to agri-environment agreements

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Countryside Stewardship, Environmental Stewardship, Sustainable Farming Incentive, Sustainable Farming Incentive pilot, Things we're doing

Heavy rainfall has a devastating and long-term impact on farming. This disruption not only affects livelihoods but also has wider implications for food security and the economy too. We're introducing temporary adjustments and easements within the Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI), the SFI Pilot, Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (ES) to support farmers and land managers dealing with the impacts of severe weather in England.

Funding available for nutrient management solutions

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Grants, Payments for research and innovation, Payments to improve soil health
Farmer walks across field under grey and blue skies

Through the £15 million Nutrient Management competition, we’re offering funding to develop solutions which address the challenges related to nutrient management in soils and water associated with agricultural livestock and crop production. In this post, I'll share links to the guidance so you can prepare for the competition opening on 29 May.

The Sustainable Farming Incentive: stats to know

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Sustainable Farming Incentive
SFI agreement holding farmer looks out over his flock of sheep

Today, we updated the data showing the uptake of actions in Sustainable Farming Incentive (SFI) and the uptake of options in Countryside Stewardship (CS) and Environmental Stewardship (CS). In this post, I’ll share an overview of the data for the Sustainable Farming Offer in 2023. I’ll also include some findings from research we conducted with around 500 SFI agreement holders, advisers and stakeholders.

Landscape Recovery: The Waveney and Little Ouse Recovery Project 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Payments to restore landscapes and ecosystems
The River Waveney Floodplain shot from above.

Our project, the Waveney and Little Ouse Landscape Recovery Project, sits on the headwaters of the 2 rivers, covering over 1,600 hectares between the towns of Diss on the Waveney and Thetford on the Little Ouse. The project seeks an opportunity to realise the invaluable services our floodplains provide. In this post, I'll share an overview of our work.

Our response to the Rock Review: one year on

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Tenanted sector
View of the estate with livestock grazing in background amid generally verdant scene.

Our response to the Rock Review set out our commitments in light of its recommendations. It is now one year since we published our response. And, of the 75 commitments, we have completed or are working on 64. In this post, we’ll summarise the progress we have made over the last year. We also shine a light on the role of the Farm Tenancy Forum and the collaborative approach of one farm in Oxfordshire. 

Apply now for a water screening study 

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme, Grants
Waterbody fenced off under sunny skies

From today, small groups of farmers in England can apply for a Local Resource Option (LRO) screening study. An LRO is a water resources scheme that improves the resilience or supply of water in a local area. LRO screening studies are one way farmers and growers can better understand their options to improve the supply or resilience of water. In this post, I’ll share the background, explain how the studies work and include links to learn more and apply. 

Laying the hedgerow regulations

Posted by: , Posted on: - Categories: Farming and Countryside Programme
Blackthorn hedgerow in the Spring Sunshine

We are pleased to tell you that legislation to protect hedgerows has today been laid in both Houses of Parliament. If approved by Parliament, the Management of Hedgerows (England) Regulations 2024 will put baseline hedgerow management practices into law, providing a consistent approach across all people operating on agricultural land. 

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This blog is managed by Defra’s Farming and Countryside Programme.

On this blog, we explain the reforms to agricultural policy in England.

We share what we’re working on, what we’re learning and how you can get involved.

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